Eco Friendly Lawn Tips ~
Once
you go Green, you never go back! However if your lawn has
been treated with chemicals in the
past, achieving a thriving organic lawn and
garden that is Ultra Low Maintenance will take a little up front effort! Pearl’s Premium is here to help you get
started with some simplified instructions that will get your soil headed in the
right direction, and your Pearl’s Lawn Seed growing thick and green! It can
take up to a couple of months to really achieve the lawn you are looking for, so be
patient and don’t hesitate to ask us [1]
if you have any questions!
- Surface Rake your lawn to clear clippings, stones and thatch. In spring, only rake surface (do not deep dethatch) to avoid bringing up weed seeds to the surface.
Tip: avoid using a hard metal rake, which will bring weed seed to the surface and
foster weed germination
- Lime to Make Soil Less Acidic: Test soil to find the right amount of lime to bring soil between 6 and 7 pH or just use a simple rule of thumb of top spreading one 40 pound bag of pellet lime for every 1,000 square feet of lawn to make pH more neutral. This will encourage grass growth and discourage weeds growth.
Tip: do a Soil Analysis [2] to make sure your lawn has the proper pH, nutrient levels and
organic materials to thrive
- Core Aerate to Loosen Soil : Use an aerator that punches holes to bring air and water to the roots and lessen compaction of the soil. For most lawns do this once (or twice) per year for compacted/clay soil lawns or lawns that do not drain well. If you use less toxic lawn chemicals that discourage microbe growth, aeration is not as necessary and may be needed only once every two years. Rent a self-propelled core aerator (not spike aerator) that pulls up finger size soil plugs onto your lawn that melt away naturally. It is helpful to aerate the day after a rain (or if needed a watering) to moisten the lawn. Scientific evidence suggests aeration and cutting tall with a sharp blade makes a measurable difference in the long term health, quality and look of the lawn. An aerated lawn favors grass and lessens weeds. A compacted lawn favors weeds!
Tip: pass over the lawn at least twice at 90-degree angles to ensure the lawn is uniformly aerated
- Spread Organic Compost or Fertilizer: Spread a small amount of organic compost (a 1/4 inch layer equals 3/4 cu. yard for every 1,000 sq ft) once a year or an organic fertilizer in spring and fall to add nutrients to your lawn and help reduce weeds and grubs. Compost requires more effort and cost but also introduces microbes to help aerate your lawn for the year.
- Tip: spread lime and fertilizer before a rain so that the material soaks in quickly
- Watering: To promote deepest root growth and out-compete weeds and high maintenance grasses, water deeply and infrequently. In hotter southern and western climates, periodic watering may be required. Also, in the first year of a newly-planted Pearl's Premium lawn during periods of extreme heat or drought, water deeply (1" of water) twice per week. Avoid watering during hottest parts of day. Never water at night to avoid mold.
- Mowing: Mow taller, ideally 3.5 or 4-inches tall with a sharp blade (a dull blade will tear the grass, exposing it to disease). Cut once in June, once in July, optionally once in August (only if it needs it) and once in September. If you never cut it, Pearl’s Premium (shade mix) leans over and turns into a 4" high meadow. Mow fall leaves into lawn or rake or blow away so leaves never stay more than one week on grass
Tip: never cut off more than one-third of the lawn's height to avoid stressing out grass
- While you're at it, save money on a gym membership and invest in a nonpolluting push mower
- Recycle the clippings as mulch by leaving them on the lawn
Tip: if the grass clumps, rake it around a bit or consider bagging every other mow
- Over-seed Next Seeding Season: (Mid April or beginning September are the best times to seed), cut with sharp blade when lawn is dry in stages, 1/3 of grass height at a time, cutting back to 1” tall; rake away clippings and over-seed at the same rate or heavier rate to later shade the soil and prevent weeds from starting (if over-seeding in spring). This second seeding (over-seeding) is very important to help out-compete weeds, cover any bald patches, correct erosion/damage and thicken the lawn. Water for a month when over-seeding to thicken lawn. Sign up for our email list and you will receive coupons and promotions to SAVE money for your over-seeding!
Tip: cut your Pearl's Premium lawn to about 2" height with a sharp blade before seeding to
give the new seed sunlight for growth
- For Weed Control (SPRING): A thick, healthy lawn, cut with a sharp blade 3+ inch tall, that was aerated, with proper pH and a ¼” of top-spread organic compost has few weeds! It can take time to get that ultimate green lawn. For the first year, lower your expectations and expect some weeds. Aerate once per year and heavily over-seed (8 pounds per 1,000 sq ft) with Pearl’s Premium) to help out compete weeds. Then spread corn gluten in the first week of April to selectively prevent broadleaf weeds, along with some optional hand pulling to control weeds. Over-seed again a month later. Ask a local lawn care professional for new, organic weed control techniques, or:
- Try a natural weed killer like B [3]urnout II (now called Captain Jack's Deadweed Brew) concentrate instead of spraying poison, or remove weeds, roots and all, by hand
Tip: a cup of coffee and a hand weeder make for a very peaceful 10 minutes in the early morning
- Water deeply early in the morning and only when the grass appears to need it
Tip: spray organic Hydretain [4]on your lawn before the heat sets in to help the
roots retain moisture and cut your water need in half.
- Remove Thatch (FALL ONLY) steel rake deeply (or rent a de-thatcher for big lawns) to loosen old clippings, thatch, sticks, and above ground roots. Once the heat of summer is well-gone and you're ready for your fall clean-up, you can cut your Pearl's Premium lawn shorter (no less than 2") and bag the clippings to facilitate thatch removal and clean-up.
